This week’s temperatures averaged 4 to 7°C above normal, continuing a warm trend which began in mid-February; consequently, winter wheat - which broke dormancy up to a month ahead of normal - continued to develop at an accelerated pace.
Precipitation during the period totalled 10 to 30 mm over western Russia, boosting moisture supplies for key wheat-producing areas in southern portions of the Southern District (Krasnodar Krai).
In Ukraine, similar rainfall totals maintained good soil moisture for winter wheat in eastern portions of the country, while light rain (5 mm or less) did little to ease concerns over short-term dryness (25-50 percent of normal over the past 60 days) in central and southern wheat areas.